Although Norway is best known for its stunning fjords and the flickering Northern Lights, the country is also home to several beautiful islands. Over 230,000 of them, to be exact, with the vast majority of them resting just off of the country’s rocky and mountainous coastline, which is one of the longest in the world.
Svalbard, an archipelago covered in glaciers, and Jan Mayen, a remote island in the Arctic Circle, are both much farther away. Some of Norway’s many islands are abandoned and inaccessible, while many others are populated by picturesque fishing villages and are hot spots for visitors looking to take in the country’s natural beauty.
The beautiful Lofoten Islands are among the most well-known and often photographed destinations in all of Norway, but the country’s extensive collection of islands guarantees that there’s something for everyone.
10. Senja
Situated in Norway’s far northwest, the island of Senja is picturesque, remote, and often blanketed in snow. The second-largest island in the country, it has stunning landscapes ranging from verdant forests and fjords to a breathtaking coastline guarded by several towering peaks.
While Senja is generally disregarded by international visitors, it has earned the nickname “Norway in Miniature” due to the island’s pleasantly diverse and dramatic landscape. In terms of breathtaking beauty, the wild and mountainous western shore of the island is right up there with that of the more famous Lofoten Islands.
Senja is home to a wide variety of beautiful scenery, as well as several quaint fishing villages and the biggest troll statue in the world.
9. Vagsoy
As a contrast, the lovely island of Vågsøy is located far to the south of Senja in Vestland, western Norway. North of the mouth of Nordfjorden, one of the longest and most beautiful fjords in all of Norway, is this location.
Its location on the open ocean means that the Atlantic’s ferocious waves constantly crash against its rocky, steep coastline. Hendanes, Krakenes, and Skongenes lighthouses are particularly photogenic due to their proximity to the water and the stunning scenery they overlook.
Maloy, the island’s biggest town, is a sight to see thanks to its location in a valley between two towering mountains with breathtaking panoramas from their peaks. Vågsøy also boasts the sandy beach of Refvik and the interesting mushroom-shaped rock of Kannesteinen.
8. Tromsoya
Tromso, well up in the Arctic Circle, is a fantastic base for seeing the Aurora Borealis and venturing into the Arctic Circle. The majority of Tromsøya is located on the tranquil island of Tromsøya, which is surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains.
Many visitors just stop in the city on their way to or from the vast expanses of snow and ice that surround it, but it also has a number of noteworthy museums, the picturesque Arctic Cathedral, and a number of other old wooden buildings. The Prestvannet Lake and its natural reserve are a particularly lovely and tranquil area to explore on the island.
A ride on the cable car to the peak of Mount Storsteinen on the mainland will reward you with breathtaking views over Tromsøya, the city, and the surrounding area.
7. Jan Mayen
Arctic Ocean waters make Jan Mayen an uninhabitable, chilly, and remote island. The island, which is home to just a handful of tough personnel of the Norwegian Armed Forces, is named after a Dutch whaling captain who is sometimes disputed as the true discoverer of the island in 1614.
Jan Mayen is divided into two different regions, each of which is now a protected nature preserve and an Important Bird Area. The southern part of the island is low-lying, with lagoons; the northern part is dominated by the magnificent Beerenberg volcano, which rises to a height of 2,277 meters and is covered with dazzling glaciers.
The dismal, desolate, and picturesque island is so inaccessible because it is located hundreds of kilometers off the coasts of Iceland, Greenland, and Norway.
6. Kvaloya
While there is an island with the same name in Tromso, the more alluring Kvaløya is located far above the Arctic Circle. Specifically, the town of Hammerfest, which bills itself as “the northernmost town in the world,” is the region’s major source of bragging rights.
Despite its long history, the town has been destroyed and rebuilt so often that it no longer boasts anything of importance outside a few churches and museums. You may learn everything about the Sami people and their culture at the Mikkelgammn Sami Camp, which makes it an important cultural hub.
Hammerfest is an excellent home base for discovering the natural beauty of Kvaløya and its many events throughout the year. A short distance away, you can discover everything from towering mountains to wide, sandy beaches, as well as many more wonderful coastal vistas, many of which are blanketed in dazzling snow in the dead of winter.
5. Hidra
Located in southern Norway, at the mouth of the breathtaking Flekkefjord, is the breathtaking island of Hidra. It has been inhabited for thousands of years, so there is a rich history there to explore, and there is also a lot of breathtaking landscape to take in.
It has an extremely hard and rocky shoreline due to its indentation, yet its interior is covered with thick forests and rich farmland. The beautiful Rasvagfjorden practically cuts the island in half, but the small Eie Canal cuts through the remaining land bridge.
Visit Hagasen Fort, a German fort constructed during World War II, to take in breathtaking vistas of Hidra and the surrounding islands. Along with the coastline museum and the colorful cabins of Sma Hytter, a fascinating art installation, the centuries-old Hidra Church is visible from the summit.
4. Mageroya
Magerøya is a beautiful island in the Barents Sea, far north of Norway, not far from the Porsanger Peninsula and the unending fjord that runs beside it. The amazing island is most recognized as the location of Nordkapp, also known as the North Cape, which is sometimes cited as the geographical northernmost point of Europe.
Seeing nothing but the glistening waves of the Arctic Ocean stretching out to the horizon from atop the high and vertical coastal rocks is a breathtaking experience. The Sami formerly utilized the plateau’s sheer cliffs as a place of sacrifice, but now it is a popular tourist attraction known for its breathtaking views.
In addition to this, you can find a number of harsh and desolate yet bird-filled landscapes on the island of Magerøya, with great routes leading you along its rocky shore and up to the summit of Grakallfjellet.
3. Vesteralen Islands
The striking Vesterlen Islands archipelago can be located close to the north of Lofoten, and it is home to a great deal of spectacular wildness and enchanting landscape. Even though it shares a border with a popular tourist destination, this one is pleasantly less crowded with visitors because of the lack of attention paid to it.
Nearly ten islands off the indented coast of Northern Norway are included within its picturesque borders. Andenes is a wonderful home base for boat trips and whale-watching tours to the remainder of the islands, which are dotted with picturesque fishing villages and breathtaking fjords and coves.
Also, the island of Hinnoya is home to a portion of Moysalen National Park, which is known for its epic and pristine coastal alpine scenery, as well as several wonderful lakes hidden among its mountains.
2. Svalbard
The stunning archipelago of Svalbard may be located well above the Arctic Circle; it is mostly comprised of beautiful, dazzling glaciers, with breathtaking mountains and fjords crisscrossing its solitary islands. It is one of the best spots in the world to watch arctic animals, and its frozen expanses are located about halfway between Norway and the North Pole.
Due to its remote location and harsh climate, only Spitsbergen’s icy beaches are dotted with settlements. Wonderful boat cruises to the nearby islands, which have several stunning national parks and nature reserves, are available from here.
In addition to polar bears, seals, walruses, and whales can be seen in the untamed waters of this winter paradise. Other animals to look out for are arctic foxes and reindeer.
1. Lofoten Islands
The beautiful Lofoten Islands, located just off the country’s northwest coast, are a delight to explore for their unique and dramatic scenery, which has earned them international acclaim. The archipelago, which is connected to the mainland by a network of tunnels and bridges, is home to some of Norway’s most breathtaking beauty.
A great number of magnificent mountains, with wonderful fjords cutting their way through them, tower dramatically above its picturesque coastlines and protected inlets. Beautiful beaches and picturesque coves can be found dotted across the area, as can meadows and farms populated by sheep.
It’s no surprise that the Lofoten Islands are so beloved by tourists, what with all the amazing things to see and do in the great outdoors, the charming fishing villages, and, of course, the shimmering Aurora Borealis.
